Who’s Andy Ibanez? The whole lot you want to find out about Tigers slugger who blasted two homers vs Cubs

Detroit Tigers infielder Andy Ibanez noticed the ball properly on Tuesday in opposition to the Chicago Cubs. He hit a solo residence run within the first inning off pitcher Drew Smyly and adopted it up with a three-run residence run within the fourth inning. The 2 residence runs on the day put him at 9 residence runs on the 12 months.

Ibanez is having a strong 12 months in Detroit. Coming into Tuesday, he was hitting .243/.274/.402 with a career-high 18 doubles.

Andy Ibanez defected from Cuba in 2014 after enjoying for the Cuban Nationwide Workforce within the 2013 World Baseball Traditional. He signed a take care of the Texas Rangers in 2015, and the remaining was historical past.

Ibanez would make his minor league debut in 2016 with the Rangers. He would bounce round from the minors till his contract was chosen in 2021.

Ibanez made his MLB debut on Might 4, 2021, with the Rangers. He would spend just a few seasons there earlier than being claimed off waivers by the Tigers in 2022.

It has not been a straightforward highway to the large league for Andy Ibanez

There isn’t a assure for gamers defecting from Cuba to discover a residence in skilled baseball. They’re taking an opportunity by chasing their dream and placing themselves and their household in a greater place.

Gamers like Andy Ibanez didn’t have a safety blanket they might fall again on. On the time, defected Cuban gamers could be shunned from returning to the island. Now, MLB and the Cuban Baseball Federation have allowed gamers to play within the main leagues with out being pressured to defect. This settlement was made just a few years after Ibanez defected.

Cuban ball gamers can now look as much as guys like Yordan Alvarez and Adolis Garcia and know they’ve a legit shot and making it. That is nice for the league, as there are some elite baseball gamers residing on the island.